As if he hadn’t already, Arizona State golfer Jon Rahm proved once and for all why he could be, should be, and is considered one of the best amateur golfers in the country. Rahm solidified that mark at the 2014 U.S. Amateur, taking down Rico Hoey from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. in the Round of 32 by a score of 3 & 2 on Thursday, before falling to Corey Connors of Canada, 3 & 1.

Rahm, one of two golfers from Spain to compete in the Round of 32 and the only to advance, quickly went 2-up on Hoey. The fast start was somewhat different for Rahm, who had come from behind to take his victories in earlier tournament appearances. This round proved to be the opposite, as he refused to relinquish his grasp on the lead throughout the entire 18 holes. He birdied five holes on the round, and comfortably advanced onto the Round of 16, where he would face Conners.

Conners quickly gained a 2-hole advantage over Rahm with birdies on both holes one and three. Rahm shot par on all the first three holes, all par-4. By the completion of the front nine Conners held onto a safe 3-stroke lead, but Rahm stormed back, just as he had throughout the first two rounds of the tournament, and won the next three out of four holes, tying the match going onto the 14th hole.

Unlike previous rounds, Rahm was unable to sustain his charge, going on to drop the next three out of four holes, leaving Conners as the winner without having to play the final hole.

Though Rahm finished three holes behind Conners, he finished only two strokes behind him. Rahm birdied three holes, bogeyed two, and shot par on the rest, showing that he played quite well despite the loss.

All in all, Sun Devil golf can rest easy knowing its top shooter remains in mid-season form as the beginning of the season awaits in the near future.

Rahm, who will be a junior at Arizona State next season with two honorable mention All-America honors in his possession, won the Spanish Amateur earlier this summer by shooting a 5-under 276 that included a 7-under 64 in the final round after starting with a 73 in the first round (with Sun Devil teammate Ben Shur as his caddie) In late June. Rahm also clinched the Palmer Cup for Europe with a 4 and 2 victory against Wyndham Clark, continuing the strong tradition of Sun Devils playing well in the match play event.